Clean Air For All; AstraZeneca Wraps Up Trials For Eco-Friendly Inhalers

AstraZeneca has made significant progress in reducing the environmental impact of medical inhalers. The pharmaceutical company has just completed its clinical trials for a new propellant that could cut greenhouse gas emissions by an impressive 99.9%. Typically, inhalers used for conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions due to their powerful propellants.

Research indicates that pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) are responsible for approximately 0.04% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, they can represent up to half of the carbon footprint for leading pharmaceutical firms. As a result, there is a competitive push within the industry to develop low-emission alternatives that reduce environmental impact while ensuring patient safety.

In 2022, AstraZeneca joined forces with Honeywell, a leading engineering firm, to develop respiratory inhalers using the propellant HFO-1234ze. This new propellant boasts up to 99.9% less Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to the propellants traditionally used in respiratory medications. AstraZeneca has now announced that it has completed the clinical studies needed to support the initial regulatory submissions for transitioning its Breztri/Trixeo Aerosphere to this eco-friendly propellant. Breztri, a triple-combination therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), will be the first product in AstraZeneca's pMDI lineup to make this switch to HFO-1234ze.

Omar Usmani, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Imperial College London and co-ordinating study investigator, said in a statement, "Respiratory medicines delivered in pressurised metered-dose inhalers are essential for millions of people living with respiratory disease worldwide, including specific vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. Transitioning to inhaled respiratory medicines using a propellant with a carbon footprint similar to non-propellant-based inhaled medicines is critical for planetary health in reducing the carbon footprint, while addressing patient needs and healthcare professionals' ability to achieve optimal clinical outcomes."

Data from the studies on Breztri and the new propellant will soon be submitted to regulatory bodies, with initial filings expected in Europe, the UK, and China by the end of 2024. This submission is part of AstraZeneca's broader effort to transition its entire pMDI portfolio to the new propellant.

The introduction of these new inhalers is anticipated to be a key component of AstraZeneca's Ambition Zero Carbon strategy. This initiative aims to reduce the company's carbon footprint across its entire value chain by 50% by 2030 and achieve a 90% reduction in absolute emissions compared to 2019 levels by 2045. This update follows GSK's announcement last year that it has entered Phase III trials for a new inhaler formula designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 90%.